Heirloom Restaurant Closure Sparks Buzz on TikTok: What Did Deborah Do?

Inquiring minds want to know! What did Deborah do to get a restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia closed down for good?

When Heirloom Restaurant posted a sign on their door that reads, "Heirloom Restaurant Closed! Thanks Deborah! You Won!" they opened the door to the internet playing detective to find out what Deborah could have done.

So many questions are left lingering. Who's Deborah? What could she have done to get a restaurant closed down for good? But fear not! TikTokers are on the case!

When a TikTok creator who goes by @perfume_n_cigarettes shared the news that Heirloom Restaurant is closed and it's all Deborah's fault, everyone wanted the tea. Whether they lived in Vancouver or not, viewers of the video are so invested in finding out what Deborah did to shut down a restaurant.

"What the f--- did you do to my favorite restaurant," she said in her video showing the sign on the door. "Be cool, girl. This is not fun."

The short and to-the-point video quickly went viral with more than 5 million views and thousands of comments.

"I've seen 2 videos now and I need to know what Deborah did!!" one viewer wrote. Another added, "I'm from Brazil. I have no idea Who is Deborah or this restaurant...but I also need to know the whole gossip. I'm getting some popcorn. C'mon TikTok, make it work."

Another viewer commented, "This is the 3rd video I've seen about this, but I'm from Germany. I now want to know what happened."

Some viewers talked about a Reddit thread they saw about Deborah, and others commented about the restaurant's Google reviews.

Over on Reddit, a discussion was started a few days ago about the restaurant blaming Deborah for closing their doors for good.

One person claiming to be the infamous Deborah shared this comment, "So my friend just messaged me on messenger this morning because she knows me on Instagram as my handle love the journey. I’ve never been on Reddit until now because I had to see this for myself! I am Deborah Lee. Apparently, I made the owner very angry, though his comments prior to me were extremely rude. As someone else has already stated he became completely unhinged."

Another person shared, "I worked for this company any the owner was always drunk and hitting on the underage waitresses. The chef made the cooks cry. I quit by yelling at the chef 'It's people like you that this business will close down' hahaha 🤣 I guess I was right. Just a big boys' club."

So if you're wondering just what Deborah Lee said in her Google review to grab such negative attention from the owner, wonder no more!

"I’m sharing this here because I will never dine in your restaurant based on how you treated a customer all for them offering constructive criticism? The person had suggested something that you obviously found offensive, though I did not. I didn’t necessarily agree with them but your remark back their way was horrible!! You literally told her that 'she should go bother someone else lol' for suggesting you figure out something? If anybody cares to see what I’m talking about, go to their Facebook page," Deborah shared in a Google review last month.

"Very unprofessional and obviously don’t appreciate your customers. I commented below, saying shame on you for speaking that way. Always remember it’s the customers that pay your wages and you wouldn’t be where you are today without them! I could go to any restaurant I want and so can other customers for that matter. I’ll only go where people appreciate their customers not just me!"

But wait, there's more! Her review continued to talk about the owner's behavior and negatively responding to people when they speak up.

After Deborah left her lengthy review of Heirloom, the owner had some harsh things to say to her.

"We can barely imagine your malicious motivations let alone someone researching how you were offended on behalf of someone else. Debby you are not welcome here. You are a terrible person. Everyone knows this. I read it online. Has to be true. As for your reference, when people say they are not happy with our choices and that they are not coming back, they are not our customers. We owe them nothing but our empathy. We owe you even less. Beat it," the owner responded.

But there's more. And maybe this is where the "Deborah, Deborah, Deborah" shirt they shared on Instagram came from.

"Deborah, Deborah, Deborah, anyone that writes into our business social media accounts and complains that we don’t follow their dietary philosophies can beat it. The Vegans have been mean-spirited and awful. Not all of them of course but a surprising amount. We are so excited to divorce ourselves from the dreadful politics of veganism. We are a business and not a cause or religion. Horrible and unprofessional? Who put you in charge? We are a humble restaurant, our professionalism is an attendance-based experience. Online anything goes. You write snarky reviews to give your empty life meaning. Enjoy your privilege."

Believe it or not, there's another Deborah who left a one-star review on Google about a week ago. Could it be this Deborah that got the restaurant closed down?

"Hi, my name is Deborah. I have frequented Heirloom many times over the years. I am very disappointed by the owners calling their customers naz*’s? Just a weird and wildly inappropriate thing to say. Maybe this is all some sort of rebrand to turn into the next Karen’s diner? Anyways, sitting on the edge of my seat to see if you guys crash & burn or not!" her review reads.

The owner replied, "Oh Deborah of all the weird and wildly appropriate things we’ve said, this is what you chose to chime in on? I fear for the edge of your seat, I suspect you put the grande in Ariana."

TikToker @Confidently.Clueless shared the review from this Deborah and the owner's response in a video. She also shared some other one-star reviews and the owner's responses to prove that maybe Deborah isn't the problem.

"What the h--- is going on? There's no way it's actually the restaurant responding right??" one viewer wrote in the comments. Another person added, "The ones you showed are funny but there are SO MANY MORE. Some are pretty disgusting. This is not the way to run a business."

Just for fun, go check out the restaurant's website. Not only is a photo of the "Deborah" shirt there, the bottom of the website lists "Deborah" as the contact person.